My Development Placement during Nepal's Gen Z protests

A BA Global Development Placement Module gave Mila the opportunity to get hands-on NGO experience at Accountability Lab Nepal - during one of the most significant moments in Nepal's recent political history.

You may be familiar with the Gen Z uprising in Nepal in September 2025, which not only toppled the government but also gave voice to years of pent-up frustration with nepotism and corruption within the political elite. The Gen Z uprising gave a voice to the young people who deserve to be part of the change they want to see. 

While these events were unfolding, as a BA in Japanese and Global Development student, I was working remotely at the Development Placement with the Accountability Lab Nepal. The Accountability Lab was at the forefront of the discussions as an organisation that understands the positive impact of supporting young people in governance and accountability.

I had many interesting conversations and spoke with people with expertise in governance and grassroots accountability work.

The placement was mainly related to the upcoming elections, which the team was tirelessly preparing for. I started the placement in January, at the beginning of Semester 2, just two months before the long-awaited elections in Nepal on 5 March. Having the virtual wall of Google Meet as protection, I was not so nervous for my first meeting with the team, but that same virtual wall disappeared once I was met with the enthusiasm, genuine care and love for one's work on the other side of the screen. 

Despite the 5h 45 min time difference between London and Kathmandu (which meant the meeting was at 8am London time, a meeting time I had no previous experience of), I felt like I was on the same page with the Accountability Lab Nepal since day one. They truly welcomed us to the team and encouraged us to connect, ask questions and seek support. 

[The Accountability Lab Nepal] truly welcomed us to the team and encouraged us to connect, ask questions and seek support.

This was a very important part of my experience and enriching in more than one way. After three years of studying development theory, I felt ready to engage more directly with its practical application, particularly in contexts that are often categorised as "developing" countries. During the placement, I had many interesting conversations and spoke with people with expertise in governance and grassroots accountability work. Speaking with them gave me a lot of inspiration for future research and made me feel confident that I also want to work in an NGO one day. 

Throughout the placement, I was engaged with different tasks that showed me the nature of work in NGOs. My tasks with ALN included researching international anti-corruption frameworks, summarising the content of NGOs they work with, researching guidelines on election observers, conducting media monitoring and drafting reports. These tasks not only strengthened my research skills but also challenged me to think differently, to search for information and to refine my work constantly. They also showed me how my skills could be useful for organisations, and I can contribute to a process of change.

The placement allowed me to be a part, even a very small one, of an event that had an impact across the globe - accountability in governance and the impact of Gen Z's voices on change-making.

The placement allowed me to be a part, even a very small one, of an event happening very far from me, but an event that had an impact across the globe - accountability in governance and the impact of Gen Z's voices on change-making. It also allowed me to meet amazing people and be infected by their passion and love for development.

I felt lucky to be part of the team in such a turbulent time, a time when the word "accountability" meant more than usual. I would encourage you to take on this challenge too!

Header image credit: 2025 Nepalese Gen Z protesters via Wikipedia Commons.